RHUBARB SUMMERS: Celebrations!

We finally have our house back, sort of. The painting is all finished and the brick has been exposed. We ended up exposing a bit more brick than anticipated due to some water damage. The majority of our walls, windows, and trim has been patched up and fixed. Boy, what started as a simple paint job became a total of 3.5 weeks of work. I am exhausted and I didn't even do anything. Trying to keep Ian and Emma away from the house all day in 95 degree weather was NOT fun. The last couple weeks are a blur of walks around the neighborhood searching for shade, trips to the grocery store to stand in the freezer aisle, and drives to far away places to try to pass the time while Ian and Emma napped. I am SO thankful to have our house back.

Despite the chaos in our house we were able to celebrate some pretty major things over the last couple of weeks. We had a shower for my friend Cynda who is expecting TWINS!!!; celebrated my brother's graduation from high school; and Owen's 2nd birthday. We also FINALLY got to meet Samuel and Riley and gave them lots of hugs and kisses. Oh, and I turned 31 and went to a Zac Brown Band/Kenny Chesney concert to celebrate.

Emma is 11 months now and is still a darling although she has bursts of very loud screams. She still EATS EVERYTHING! We have started putting barrettes in her hair and she looks so adorable. Emma has taken two steps before falling but is very determined so we think she may walk soon. Some things Emma loves: Ian, her daddy, her pacifier, bath time, putting things in her mouth, and playing with gravel and rocks.

Ian is almost 3 years old. I cannot believe that! He really loves books about firefighters and fire trucks as well as police cars and police men. A policeman on a bike gave him a jr. badge in the park the other day and he has wanted to go back ever since and get another one. He immediately put it on his shoulder and would not take the badge off. Ian is still waking up at least once a night and coming into our room. He ends up sleeping on the floor at the foot of our bed and seems to sleep much better there than in a bed. He moves around a TON in his sleep and usually ends up falling off his bed so the floor is best for him now. Ian is 100 percent potty trained except for nighttime. We tried to go without a diaper at night and needless to say Ian did not make it to the bathroom in time. So, back to the diaper. Some other things Ian is obsessed with: "doing work", balloons, butterflies, and eating chicken on the bone. We have a carnivore on our hands!

How it all started...